Signaling apparatus and circuits therefor.



J. G. NOLEN.

SIGNALING APPARATUS AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25, 1904.

946,258, Patented Jan. 11,1910.

m as 31/ A UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioEi.

" Chicago,

JAMES G. NOLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENT S, TO AUTOMATIC FIRE PROTECTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SIGNALING APPARATUS AND CIRCUITS THEREFOR.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMES G. NOLEN, of in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus and Circuits Therefor; and-I hereby declare that the-following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference, being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention-relates to signaling apparatus and circuits therefor, and has for one of its objects to provide a-signaling instru-, ment arranged for electrical control and adapted to transmit successive signals upon the successive occurrence of different conditions in the electrical controlling devices.

' A further object of'my invention is to' I provide such as'ignaling device wherein the electrical control is exercised through the agency of an electromagnetic instrumentality, and which is adapted when the current flow through the magnet is sufficiently varied from normal conditions to transmit one signal, when the normal conditions are restored at asubsequent period of time to transmit another signal, and when the cur-.

' rent flow is varied from and immediately re number wheels and contact devices.

stored to normal condition to transmit a signal differentfrom the. before-mentioned si nals.

1A further object of my invention .isto provide a signaling apparatus of the character described which is simple in construction and operation. I Another object of my invention is to provide a novel circuit arrangement wherein my improved signaling apparatus may advantageously be employed. Other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. v In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one operative embodiment and application of my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signaling apparatus complete. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof ortions being broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail Iof this igs. and 5 are details of-the motor stop devices. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic'illu'stration of an operative application of my invention.

Throughout the drawings like numerals of reference refer always to like parts. I Generally. speaking .my improved appa- Specification of Letters Patent. I

Application filed April 25, 1904. Serial No. 204,780.

Patented J an. 11, 1910.-

ratus comprises a motor of any suitable. characte rin practice usually a spring motornormally set or ready for operation, and associated in driving relations with the mechanical circuit breaker, or breakers, of the circuit or circuits, wherein the apparatus is to send its signal, said parts constituting as a whole what I will call a signal box. VVit'h said signal box is associated an electrically actuated means for controlling the operation of the box. To accomplish such electric control of the box I employ an electro-magnetic device having a movable element operatively associated with mechanical devices, which I shall hereinafter term the motor controlling mechanism, which. in turn is operatively associated with some movable part of the motor to control its operation.

In the drawings 10 indicates generally -a signal box' mechanism, in the present instance-comprising a suitable train of gearing ada ted to be driven by a spring 11,

and pre erably provided with the usual escapement' having a vibrating pallet 12.

13 indicates a wheel moving with or forming part of the train and in the present embodiment mounted on the bottom frame piece of the motor. A mechanical contact breaker is also operatively connected with, the motor to ,act upon the signal circuits or circuit, a specific form'of which will be hereinafter described. v

The controlling mechanism of the motor comprises two stop devicesassociated with a moving part of the motor mechanism, each stop' device being adaptedt'ostop the motor mechanism when the motor. parts assume predetermined positions, and each stop being' preferably arranged so that when tripped or moved to motor-releasing posltion it permits" the travel of the motor parts past the position wherein they may be stopped by the other stop device before it is able to again stop the mechanism. The stop devices are also associated with mechanical locking means which serve to lock them against movement to motor stoppmgposltion during certain periods of operation of the motor, said locking means being preferably actuated by the. motor itself 1n timed relation thereto.

In, the specific construction the wheel 13 of the motor is provided with two a ertures 14 and 15 arranged at different ra ial distances from the axis of rotation of the wheel at diametrically opposite points thereon.

16 indicates a stop lever pivoted as at 17, and having its inner end bifurcated to form two fingers 18 and 19, extending respectively above and below the wheel 13 and provided with ends turned inward toward each other but out oftvertical alinement so that they are adapted to engage respectively the apertures 14 and 15 of the wheel 13. The end of the lever 16 remote from the wheel 13 is preferably upturned as indicated at 16 and is provided at its extremity with a horizontal portion 16 terminating in two prongs 20 and 21.

22 indicates a stem secured to the pallet 12 to vibrate therewith, and having an upturned portion extending into proximity to the prongs 20 and 21 of the lever 16. The arrangement of these parts is such that when the end of the lower finger 19 is engaged with its aperture 15 of the motor wheel 13, the prong 21 is interposed in the path of oscillation of the upturned end 22 of the pallet stem, and when the upper finger 18 is in engagement with its aperture 14 of wheel 13, the opposite prong 20 is interposed in the path of oscillation of the said stem 22. The separation of the prongs 20 and 21 is such that if both fingers 18 and 19 be moved out of engagement with their apertures in the wheel 13 so that said wheel is free to revolve therebetween, the

, stem 22- is left free to vibrate between the prongs 21 and 20. It will be apparent that the fingers 18 and 19 alone would serve to stop the movement of the-motor mechanism, but as they work in a slowly moving part of-quite high torque I prefer to use in conjunction therewith the supplemental device for simultaneously acting upon the motor escapement mechanism, as thereby the motor mechanism may be quickly stopped with little effort at the desired points and as quickly and. easily released. It will further be apparent that thewheel 13 constitutes a means for locking the stop devices against movement to motor-stopping position .durmg periods of activity of the motor, for as long as the fingers 18 and 19 are opposed to imperforate surfaces of the wheel 13, the stop devices can not move to any operative extent.

lVhile I claim the mechanism described as new and advantageous I do not desire to be understood as limiting myselfthereto, as it'will be apparent that many mechanically equivalent contrivances might be employed for stopping the motor mechanism r purposes herein described.

The electromagnetic actuating device for the motor controlling mechanism in the present embodiment comprises an electro-mag-.

net 23 and its armature 24, normally held by a spring 25 in open position. Said armature 24 is connected with the lever 16 so that the two move together in both direr tions, such connection being herein indicated as made through a lever arm 26 rigidly secured to the armature and having in its end a slot 27 embracing a pin 28 carried by the lever 16 upon the side of the pivot remote from the fingers 18 and 19. It will be apparent now, assuming that the box spring 11 be wound. and the motor controlling parts to be in the normal position indicated in Fig. 2 that if the armature 24 be moved toward its magnet 23 the lever arm 26 will be lifted, thereby depressing the inner end of the stop lever 16 and throwing the finger 19 out of engagement with its aperture 15 in the moving part 13 of the motor.

As the inturned end of the fingers 18 and 19 are not'in vertical alinement, the finger 18 is unable to engage in the aperture 15 but rests upon the top of the wheel 13, thereby positioning the lever 16 substantially mid way of its limits of-movement and so free ing both the wheel 13 and the escapement stem 22 for their respective rotary and vibratory movements. Assuming that the force tending to move the armature i-nto contact with the poles of its magnet continues to be applied it will be apparent that the motor mechanism may 'move to a predetermined extent until the aperture 14 arrives between the finger ends of the lever 16. Now the finger 18 is forced into engagement with said aperture 14 thereby throwing the prong 20 of the stop lever 16 into the. path of-the vibratory stem 22 and quickly stopping the motor mechanism. .Should now the armature be released, so that its spring may draw it outward, the armature in its movement toward open position depresses the outer end of the lever 16 thereby removing the finger 18 from engagement with its aperture and raising the finger 19 into contact with the undersurfaee of the wheel 13. Said wheel now makes a second half revolution before the aperture 15 again starting from closed position the armature be first opened and then re-closed.

mits the travel of the motor parts past position where they may be stopped by the other stop device before-it may itself again perform its function of stopping the. motor.

To describe now the speoifiomake and break devices for the signal'ng circuit herein shown 30 indicates'an ar or of the motor 7 Thus. each of 'the stop devices when tripped .per-

ing on its periphery a plurality of teeth ar-v ranged in some predetermined order as is usual in signal box construction. Preferably .the tooth arrangements of the two wheels 31 and 32 areslightly different, in

the showing one wheel having thereon teeth to represent the number 125 twice repeated and the other having teeth to represent the number 125 once only. i The wheels are preferably so arranged .that the toothed portion ofeach comes opposite an untoothed portion or the other wheel, and the untootlied ortion of each wheel is provided with a ralsed peripheral portion .equal to or greater than the height of the teeth and in peripheral extent equal to the toothed peripheral portion of the other wheel. Associated with the wheel 31 are the usualpen 33 and contact 34, While associated with the wheel 32 are the pen 35 and its 'contact36; These onepen and its contact the other pen and contact are in a circuit to be supervised which, when complete, communicates with some signal receiving instrument but whlch is-a'circuit influencing the magnetic conditions of the electromagnet and. 1s adapted'to. be ruptured or established to cause the-actuation of the signal box. I

In the form of circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 6, 37 indicates a source of current I supply, and 38 asignal receiving instrument or recorder of any preferred type, arranged in series with one of the circuit breakin pens. Specifically the circuit may be trace from battery. 37 by wire 39-to't-he magnet 23,

thence by wire'4O to the contact normally making contact with the pen .33 from which extendswire 41 running to one terminal of the receiving instrument 38, from ,the other terminal of which extends wire 42 connected to the remaining terminal of the battery 37. -A circuit to be supervised is provided to include the other circuit breaking pen '35, such circuit being herein shown as a normally closed short circuit provided around the magnet 23 by the wire point 34 43 connected with the Wire 39 and extendwhereof extends a wire 44 connected to ing to the contact 36 from the coacting pen the wire 41. The arrangement is such. that when the shunt circuit through the. wire '43 is closed the current flowing through magnet 23 is insufficient to magnetizeit to such. an extent that it attracts its armature '24- against the tension of its spring, but when said wire 43 is ruptured and all the current flows through-the magnet23 the. latter is magnetized :so that it attracts its armature -'quently the si station is simp pens are preferably arranged .in circuits such that' are constantly in a.

make another revolution Under these con- 95 peated. Should,

ing the whole of the time of .anism is I adapted 24 Thus the circuit tobe supervised in of fect'co'ntrols the magnet. It will be apparout now that if the circuit to, be supervised be broken, the movement of the magnet ai'-' mature 24 vs ill trip the signal box, as here toforedescribed, to permit a-half revolution of the wheel l3'an'd the correspondingfull revolution of the number wheels 31 and 32. A signalis under such conditions transmitted from the pen 33 and'its contact 34 over the main circuit to the receiving instrument 38. Under such conditions the lower' number wheel 32, the (pen whereof is in the, I

circuit tobe supervise transmits no signalv as its pen 35 and contact-36 now have no current passing through them. Conseal received at the central y that sent by the wheel 31 alone, that is to say, the number 125 twice repeated followed by a mark or rundown 7 indicating the passage of the peripherally raised portion of the wheel under the pen 33. Should now the circuitto'be supervised be reestablished the-current flow through the magnet, 23 is thereby reduced to such an extent that thearmature 24 is retracted by its spring and the signal box accordingly again tripped that its number wheel may ditions, however, the current flows through both main circuit and the shunt circuit, and both wheels 31' and 32 actuate their-pens to transmit-their respective signals to the central receiving instrument, which consequently records the numbe'i 125"- thrice re loo' however, the circuit under supervision be broken and then immediately closed so that the increase in flow of current i through the magnet 23 is momentary only, the signal box is actuated as heretofore described, so that its wheel 13 makes a 'com plete revolution and the number wheels cor- I respondingly make two revolutions. Durthe revolutions of the nun-fiber wheels, however, current flows through both wires-4O and 43 whenever they contacts at 34 and 36 are closed so, that both wheels are enabled to send their respective signals and the instrument at-central station I receives a'signal ofnumber 125 sixtimes 'repeated.=

. While I have described one system of wit? 'ing whereby advantageous results may be attained it' will be apparent thatmy mechrangements', and that with variouspen and amsms,

. I prefer to. provide in" conjunction with my box a pair :of contact points, so arranged relative to the main spring 11 of the motor that when spring has unwound to some predetermined extentit forces the contact points together. In the drawing 45 indicatesa post bearlngat its lower end a ,con-

it may be/equipped number wheel mechfor various wiring ar- 12d one direction tact point,. and 46 indicates a spring connected to the-post at its upper end\ and arranged in the path of expansion of the main spring 11, for movement thereby into contact with the stationary post 45; These contact devices may be connected with any suitable electric a'nnunciator which will give a warning when the motor is almost'run down.

lVhile I have herein described one operative embodiment of my invention. the details of which I claim as-new and advantageous, I do not desire to be limitedto the construction illustrated, as it will be appar cut that the broadfeatures of my invention might be embodied in devices differing widely in specific construction from those herein indicated, and that equivalent constructions will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, of the United States, is

1. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal box having a normally wound motor, motor controlling mechanism including a movable stop device arranged to stop the motor at either end of its range of movement and means actuated by the motor for ositively locking said stopdevice in mi -position against movement in either directionto position to stop the motor during certain periods of operation of the motor, and electromagnetic means for actuating the controlling device.

'2. In a signaling apparatus, the com..-ination of a signal box having a normally wound motor, motor controlling mechanism including a movable-stop device and means operated by the motor for mechanically looking said stop device against movement in either direction to stop the motor during certain periods of operation of the motor, the stop device to trip the box and subsequently stop the same and when moved in the other direction to again trip the box; and electro-magnetic means for actuating the controlling device.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signaling box having a normally wound motor, provided with a vibrating part motor controlling mechanism including a movable stop device arranged to operate upon the vibrating part of the motor, and mechanical means for locking said stop device against movement in either direction to stop the motor during a portion of a cycle of operation of the motor, said parts being so arranged that full movement of the stop device in either direction trips the motor and subsequently stops the same; in comopposing comprising a stop being arranged when moved in bination with an electromagnetic means for actuating the controlling mechanism.

at. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a signaling box having a normally wound motor, of .motor controlling devices comprising a motor driven wheel having .two unsymmetrically located apertures in a part thereof, a movable stop device having parts disposed for engagement with the respective apertures exclusively, and arranged to en age their apertures upon movement of the device in opposite directions, and eectro-magnetic means controlling the movement of the stop device. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signaling box having a normally wound motor, motor controlling mechanism device having two fingers 18 and 19, and a wheel 13, having apertures therein. at i iiieren't radial distances from the center, adapted to receive the respective fingers 18 and 19., said wheel being driven by the motor; and means for actuating said motor controlling mechanism.

6. In 'a signalmgsystem, an electromag netic device comprising a magnet and a partmovable in response thereto, a circuit to be supervised arranged to influence the current flow through said magnet, a normally-set-signal'box associated with the movable partof the magnetic device to be tripped by said movable part when the latter is moved in either direction, said signal box having two circuit breakers, one in the circuit to be supervised, another circuit including the other circu t breaker in parallel with the first said circuit breaker, and signal-responsive means 1n circuit with both circuit'breakers of the signaling box.

7. In a signaling system, an electromagnetic device comprising a magnet, and a part movable inresponse to said magnet, a circuit to be supervised arranged relative to said magnet to change the current flow through said magnet to vary the position of-its movable part when the circuit is broken, a normally-set signal box comprising motor mechanism associated with the movable part of the magnetic device. to he tripped and subsequently reset thereby when the said part is moved in either direction, and mechanical circuit interrupting devices arranged to work upon two independent sets of contact parts, one of said sets of contact parts being included in the circuit to be supervised, and a main circuit. including the other set ot contact parts in a portion thereof shunted by the supervisory circuit and signal responsive means arranged in circuit with each of said sets of contact parts.

8. In a signaling system, an electromagnetic device comprising a magnet and a part supervised including the other pen, constimovable in response thereto; a normally set tuting a shunt around the magnet. v signal box mechanically associated with the In testimony that I claim the foregoing movable part of the magnetic device to be as my own, I aflix my signature in presence 5 trippeddthereby wheljsgid part is moved in of two witnesses,

eit er irection, sai ox com risin two sets of circuit pens, a closed Iiiain ircuit' Q JAMES NOLEN' including a source of electrical supply, a In presence of signal responsive device, the magnet and G ORGE T. MAY, J12, 10 one of the said pens and a circuit to be. MARY F. ALLEN. 

